The United States and Japan will step up their defence cooperation to deal with the threat from nuclear-armed North Korea as tensions in East Asia remain high, officials from the two allies said on Thursday.

Key points at the ALP conference

The question of whether Labor should include turning back asylum seeker boats in its suite of policies is set for an all-out brawl on Saturday afternoon. Or maybe not, if faction heavyweights can come to an agreement before the scheduled debate. Either way, the intrigue will keep many occupied. Adding to the heat will be a protest outside the conference calling for the closure of Manus Island and Nauru detention centres.

* GAY MARRIAGE

Another potential battle is over whether federal MPs should be made to vote in favour of legalising same-sex marriage whenever legislation comes up in the parliament. Sections of the Left faction want a binding vote, but it would limit Labor's attack on Tony Abbott for not offering coalition MPs a free say. The Equal Love group is organising a protest outside the conference before the debate.

* CLIMATE CHANGE

Bill Shorten is setting up action on climate change as a key point of departure from the coalition. On Friday he pledged to take an emissions trading scheme - "not a tax" - to the next election and on Saturday afternoon that pledge will get fleshed out. Labor will also look at expanding the renewable energy target to 50 per cent by 2030.

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Expect to hear a lot about $100,000 degrees during debate on education policy. The draft platform strongly opposes the coalition's fee deregulation policy and it is an issue the party wants to fight an election on. The tertiary sector is in limbo while it waits to find out what is happening with funding and will be keeping a close eye on Labor's plans. The National Tertiary Education Union and students are holding talks on policy on the conference sidelines.